I love jackets, me. And coats. Love coats. And now the weather's gone all rubbish again and will stay so until next March we can all talk about coats and jackets and I will be happy again. So. What have you got for this new bad weather? What might you buy? What do you need persuading that you absolutely must buy because at the moment you're slightly unsure?

Obviously FurDonga none of this applies to you so please don't read it. It's all hand-holding and faux fashionistas here.

I'm mildly cross that I haven't got a new jacket to go into this Winter with. I've tried though. I bought a leather jacket from Mango but it wouldn't do up. So I sent it back for the next size (Medium), but that wouldn't do up either! It's almost as though those rotten Spaniards are trying to ruin my self esteem. Although they are failing of course. So now I haven't got any leather jackets, and there's nothing else that's caught my eye either.

Which means that I'm heading Winterlong armed only with my two Barbours - my black lightweight International which keeps me dry but not warm, and my olive International which has a pop-in fleecy pile liner so keeps me (slightly less)dry and warm too. You might not believe it, but that's all my coats. Well, them and a pocketable cagoule thing.

I like down filled jackets but don't want to look like a mountaineer all the time so want something streetesque but lovely and warm. Something from Moncler would be nice, moreso if not needing a mortgage.

I would like to explore the options of downs, but unfortunately feathers are one of the many many things that my wife is allergic to. We've had a preposterous conversation wherein I incredulously said "but surely feathers inside my coat wouldn't be able to make you allergic and ill?" and she said "well I don't know but I'm not taking the chance. If they did then I would simply not spend any time near you or the coat until you threw it away". So I don't look at downs now.

Tokyo Sexwale wrote:You can get synthetic Downs that is easier to care for and stuff - Montane do some nice ones.

I know, but sadly I haven't got a clue what I'm looking for or at with those. Are those synth-downs jackets waterproof as well as warm? I struggle to see the point of a bad weather coat that lets you get wet.

e: I'm only allergic to one thing. One! Albeit one that's used to make just about every foodstuff known to man.

In your position, I'd buy a feather one, lie, and tell her it was synthetic and see if she went swollen or not. But that's how I compromise. By lying.

My quiver is looking pretty strong for A/W 2014 and I can't see me especially adding to it.

I'm currently running:

Belstaff Roadmaster - wet, not-cold days, biking about town etc.Barbour Ursula - much the same but a different colourBarbour Beaufort with zip in quilted gilet - cold or hot, wet or dry.Navy Pea Coat - Cold Winter days when I want to look like an actorFjallraven Greenland - No good in the wet, annoyingly, even waxed.A couple of smart wool coats - fast winter suit work.A black high collared greatcoat thing - again, very smart but ace.A couple of blouson jackets - out of seasonA leather A1 jacket - Good in winter and surprisingly warmA couple of leather 'biker' jackets - out of seasonMy Mountain Equipment down FCUKER - going to be broken out in November as it's just too hot any other time. Best, comfiest, warmest thing ever.Couple of tweeds - country casual, like.

Disastrous wrote:My quiver is looking pretty strong for A/W 2014 and I can't see me especially adding to it.

I'm currently running:

Belstaff Roadmaster - wet, not-cold days, biking about town etc.Barbour Ursula - much the same but a different colourBarbour Beaufort with zip in quilted gilet - cold or hot, wet or dry.Navy Pea Coat - Cold Winter days when I want to look like an actorFjallraven Greenland - No good in the wet, annoyingly, even waxed.A couple of smart wool coats - fast winter suit work.A black high collared greatcoat thing - again, very smart but ace.A couple of blouson jackets - out of seasonA leather A1 jacket - Good in winter and surprisingly warmA couple of leather 'biker' jackets - out of seasonMy Mountain Equipment down FCUKER - going to be broken out in November as it's just too hot any other time. Best, comfiest, warmest thing ever.Couple of tweeds - country casual, like.

Disastrous wrote:My quiver is looking pretty strong for A/W 2014 and I can't see me especially adding to it.

I'm currently running:

Belstaff Roadmaster - wet, not-cold days, biking about town etc.Barbour Ursula - much the same but a different colourBarbour Beaufort with zip in quilted gilet - cold or hot, wet or dry.Navy Pea Coat - Cold Winter days when I want to look like an actorFjallraven Greenland - No good in the wet, annoyingly, even waxed.A couple of smart wool coats - fast winter suit work.A black high collared greatcoat thing - again, very smart but ace.A couple of blouson jackets - out of seasonA leather A1 jacket - Good in winter and surprisingly warmA couple of leather 'biker' jackets - out of seasonMy Mountain Equipment down FCUKER - going to be broken out in November as it's just too hot any other time. Best, comfiest, warmest thing ever.Couple of tweeds - country casual, like.

Down or pseudo-down jackets aren't meant to be waterproof, on the whole. But if they do get wet synthetic is supposedly better because it doesn't become a mushy mass of sodden feather, and retains more of its loft so it's warmer. And it dries quicker afterwards.

Disastrous wrote:My quiver is looking pretty strong for A/W 2014 and I can't see me especially adding to it.

I'm currently running:

Belstaff Roadmaster - wet, not-cold days, biking about town etc.Barbour Ursula - much the same but a different colourBarbour Beaufort with zip in quilted gilet - cold or hot, wet or dry.Navy Pea Coat - Cold Winter days when I want to look like an actorFjallraven Greenland - No good in the wet, annoyingly, even waxed.A couple of smart wool coats - fast winter suit work.A black high collared greatcoat thing - again, very smart but ace.A couple of blouson jackets - out of seasonA leather A1 jacket - Good in winter and surprisingly warmA couple of leather 'biker' jackets - out of seasonMy Mountain Equipment down FCUKER - going to be broken out in November as it's just too hot any other time. Best, comfiest, warmest thing ever.Couple of tweeds - country casual, like.

minimoog wrote:Down or pseudo-down jackets aren't meant to be waterproof, on the whole. But if they do get wet synthetic is supposedly better because it doesn't become a mushy mass of sodden feather, and retains more of its loft so it's warmer. And it dries quicker afterwards.

Only just seen that you posted this moog. What's the point of a Winter coat that isn't waterproof? In this country, anyway.

minimoog wrote:Down or pseudo-down jackets aren't meant to be waterproof, on the whole. But if they do get wet synthetic is supposedly better because it doesn't become a mushy mass of sodden feather, and retains more of its loft so it's warmer. And it dries quicker afterwards.

Only just seen that you posted this moog. What's the point of a Winter coat that isn't waterproof? In this country, anyway.

minimoog wrote:Down or pseudo-down jackets aren't meant to be waterproof, on the whole. But if they do get wet synthetic is supposedly better because it doesn't become a mushy mass of sodden feather, and retains more of its loft so it's warmer. And it dries quicker afterwards.

Only just seen that you posted this moog. What's the point of a Winter coat that isn't waterproof? In this country, anyway.

minimoog wrote:Down or pseudo-down jackets aren't meant to be waterproof, on the whole. But if they do get wet synthetic is supposedly better because it doesn't become a mushy mass of sodden feather, and retains more of its loft so it's warmer. And it dries quicker afterwards.

Only just seen that you posted this moog. What's the point of a Winter coat that isn't waterproof? In this country, anyway.

When it's really cold, it doesn't rain!

When it's really cold, it snows. Which is wet.

A down jacket is so insulated that it doesn't tend to warm up at all on the outer surface threedots the snow doesn't melt on it.

My NF down jacket has been a brilliant winter coat for years now and never has it got wet - it's a shame my arms have grown too long for it.

Tumescent Acorn wrote:Might get a showerproof coach's jacket thing, to go over a jumper.

Hmm. This is the niche I'm lacking in. This is what I wanted my Mango jacket to fill, but unfortunately I over-filled my Mango jacket haha! I currently want a throw-it-on-over-a-t-shirt-or-light-jumper short jacket, and I want a big Winter off coat. And I don't know which one I want more.

Tumescent Acorn wrote:Might get a showerproof coach's jacket thing, to go over a jumper.

Hmm. This is the niche I'm lacking in. This is what I wanted my Mango jacket to fill, but unfortunately I over-filled my Mango jacket haha! I currently want a throw-it-on-over-a-t-shirt-or-light-jumper short jacket, and I want a big Winter off coat. And I don't know which one I want more.

Tumescent Acorn wrote:Might get a showerproof coach's jacket thing, to go over a jumper.

Hmm. This is the niche I'm lacking in. This is what I wanted my Mango jacket to fill, but unfortunately I over-filled my Mango jacket haha! I currently want a throw-it-on-over-a-t-shirt-or-light-jumper short jacket, and I want a big Winter off coat. And I don't know which one I want more.

To be honest, it's not a good look for me. It reminds me of the 80's output of Frank and Dean when they'd have a cover photo with a middle aged man (Frank and/or Dean) wearing a jacket like that (or maybe a satin blouson) with a team cap. An awful look.

Would it go with your performance boots?

Not convinced on the Wolfskin parka either, sadly. 2M, I thought you had a ridiculous Canada Goose thing like that?

I'm afraid I agree. TA's waterproof is only missing a Subaru 555 logo across the back to complete the look, and Teekle's parka looks like every other slightly-technical parka ever. For Fargo-ing you need more bulk and more fur and either a natural hue (olive or dun or somesuch) or red / orange. Black just makes it look like your mum bought it for you.

I am in desperate need and in the mood to spend.Current wardrobe contains 3 overcoats, one mohair from Savile Row (suitable for funerals and carriages at 2 o'clock), an ancient Crombie, and a Burberry mac. One leather jacket and a crap skiing jacket.Need something relatively water/showerproof, not bulky as I have to get in & out of cars a lot, warmish but I am in and out of overheated flats a lot. Have Barbour got any more stylish over the years?And I don't do tweed - that was an ironic statement in my twenties, but would now just make me feel old.

Barbour have got more everything. But my International is the same jacket as people have been wearing for 60 years so I don't know. They do do some neat parka-esque jackets now, and not everything looks equestrian. I just hate all their quilted business.